Virginia Opens Season With 25-12 Win Over Indiana

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –It was a strong start to the season for the Cavaliers as Virginia (1-0) won seven weight classes on the way to a 25-12 victory over Indiana (0-1) at Memorial Gym on Saturday (Nov. 3).

Virginia used bonus-point wins from sophomore Michael Murphy (Lookout Mountain, Tenn.), freshman Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley, Pa.), redshirt freshman Quinn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.) to help push the match out of reach. 

“It was a big win for us and I’m really proud of our guys,” said Virginia head coach Steve Garland. “A lot of positives started for us at 149 pounds and things just snowballed from there. We talked all week about pouring on points, being tough on top and closing matches down at the end. We did that a lot today.”
 
Murphy and sophomore Jake Keating (Naperville, Ill.) set the tone for the Cavaliers following an opening-bout loss at 141 pounds to start the day. Murphy battled to a major decision over the Hoosier’s Tristan Sellmer to give Virginia the first lead of the day before Keating fought his way to the decision over Jake Danishek.

Coy then elevated the energy in the arena and on the bench with his upset of Indiana’s nationally-ranked Martin – an NCAA qualifier for the Hoosiers a year ago. After building a 3-0 lead with a takedown in the first period and an escape point to start the second, Coy was taken down by Martin to cut the lead to 3-2. Martin chose the down position to start the third and Coy gutted his way to the win, riding Martin out for the duration of the third period to secure 1:15 of riding time and the 4-2 decision over Martin.

Patrick then broke the dual match open with his dominant performance at 174 pounds as the tech fall pushed Virginia out to a 12-point lead. 

Indiana would pick up the sudden-victory decision at 184 pounds before Jay Aiello (Chantilly, Va.) and Miller would lock up the win with a decision at 197 pounds and a major decision at heavyweight. In his decision, Aiello overcame a 3-0 deficit from the first period, recording the escape point at the start of the third before a takedown with 27 seconds left propelled him to the 4-3 win as he added the riding time point from his control for much of the second period.

Virginia forfeited at 125 pounds before redshirt freshman Brian Courtney (Sayre, Pa.) closed the match with his 4-2 victory at 133 pounds

The Cavaliers will return to action next weekend, competing at the Journeymen Duals in Albany, N.Y. Virginia wrestle on Saturday (Nov. 10) and face Ithaca College, Nebraska and Wyoming. 
 
Virginia 25, Indiana 12
141:Paul Konrath (IU) dec. Sam Krivus (UVA), 10-3 – IU 3, UVA 0
149:Michael Murphy (UVA) major dec. Tristan Sellmer, 11-2 – UVA 4, IU 3
157:Jake Keating (UVA) dec. Jake Danishek (IU), 6-2 – UVA 7, IU 3
165:Cam Coy (UVA) dec. No. 18 Bryce Martin (IU), 4-2 – UVA 10, IU 3
174:Robert Patrick (UVA) tech fall Dillon Hoey (IU), 16-1 – UVA 15, IU 3
184:Norman Conley (IU) dec. Will Schany (UVA), 7-5 (sv-1) – UVA 15, IU 6
197:Jay Aiello (UVA) dec. Jake Kleimola (IU), 4-3 – UVA 18, IU 6
HWT:Quinn Miller (UVA) major dec. Brandon Streck (IU), 15-4 – UVA 22, IU 6
125:Elijah Oliver (IU) by forfeit – UVA 22, IU 12
133:Brian Courtney (UVA) dec. Garrett Pepple (IU), 4-2 – UVA 25, IU 12